New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-24
DOGS And ROUGHS.

There is something inconsistent In the
methods adopted for dealing with our dogs
and our roughs. The dog pound is supposed
to represent unnecessary rigOr 1t Is the the
ory that it keeps down the breed of mongrels,
and some people think that it lessons the
danger of hydrophobia. Strictly speaking
indeed hydrophObia, or the fear OF water,
is much more often manifested by men than
by dogs, and not few OF the former carry
il so far as never knowingly TO admit the
element into their mouths or upon their
skins. But in order to allay panic fears and
to keep down the mongrels we have insti-
tuted dog pound, appointed official dog
thieves, and arranged machine Tor the
wholesale murder OF dogs. They arc gathered
ur with brutality, and slaughtered In tho
same manner. Sometimes hundred a day
are thus disposed of. The majority OF Them
whether mongrels or not. are the pets oil
somebody: of women, of Chi drcn and the
devoted affection these noblest OF animals
offer so freely is returned by human friends
To satisfy panic fear, for the most part
causeless and contemptible, these dogs arc
snatched from their homes and drowned.
II certainly is not a model piece of municipal
administration, but perhaps 1t indicates 10
some extent vigorous attempt to protect
the public. True, the danger Is small ana
vague, but the legislation directed against 1t
assumes to be in the general interest
Now turn from the poor harmless dogs,
30 sternly and ruthlessly dealt with, ana
consider the treatment of a really and I'M
luestiOnably dangerous and ml chevouS ele
ment, namely, the roughs. For years ana
years we have been accustomed tc hear that
such and such ''gang7 has been committing
this or the other Outrage, crime indecency.
With what looked almost like boastiulness
we have discussed the doings and the per
sonnel of the Nhyo gang the Dry Dock
gang, or whatever name they bore. Rc-
peatedly it has been asserted, and as repeat
edly proved, that there were certain streets
or districts through which no decent man
or woman could pass after dark with I'M
punity. Outrages have been perpo traied by
tho gangs WHICH Sicilian bngapds could
hardly surpass Murders, brutal assaults,
highway robberieS, have been recorded again
and again. Yet notw .thstanding the notor-
ETY. of the matter these organized ruflians
have been permitted to exist and not only
to exist, but to keep W their Expectations,
TO harry whole neighbolhoodS anu terrorlzc
them, to defy the police and the courts, and
in short to do very much as they pleased.
None Of the energy, none OF the severity,
none Of the promptness, shown III consigning
dogs to the slaughter, is shown when the
question is of protecting the public against
tho lawlessncss and outrage Of these dc
praved and insocnt scoundrcls, few of whom
will stand comparison with "a respectable dog
This is a shameful state OF affairs 1t Is
lisgraccfM TO the police. 1t Is disgraceful
10 the people. There is no excuse, no rea-
sonable or credible explanation OF the toer-
lnce accorded the gangs OF roughs who in
fest the river fronts. They ought to have
been put down with the strong hand years
ago. They could have been SO put down al
INV time. If they faunt their vice and out
lawry defianty to-day in half dozen quar-
lers, it is because they are permitted to do
20. 1t is prcposterOus to pretend that the
police cannot deal with the gangs. They
,oud wipe every one of them out in week
f the will to do SO were present. And ii
ought TO be present. 1t is most discrcditablc
10 the city that there should exist within It's
corporate limits many places where it is no,
safe for honest and law-abiding people to
90 where even in broad day they run the risk
of insult or assault; where the laws have been
suffered to lapse in effect and a hidcons and
ntolerabe sort of mob tyranny has taken
their place What kind of a civilization is
hat the capacity Of whose admlnis!l alton
tops short at dogs, and fails when roughs
are in question? 1t is time tina, the police
captains and Superintendent Murray made
up their minds to put al end to this buse
The gangs can all be broken up. There is no
reason that will bear statement for tolerat-
ing them.